Councilman Zach Reed has August trial date for OVI

CLEVELAND -- An Aug. 15 jury trial date has been set for Cleveland City Councilman Zach Reed's OVI charge.

Reed, 52, was in Cleveland Municipal Court Friday morning. He had requested a jury trial.

The Ohio Supreme Court has assigned Larry Allen, of Willoughby, to the case. The case was originally assigned to Judge Pinkey Carr but she recused herself.

Cleveland City Council oversees the court's budget and that may give the appearance of impropriety if a Cleveland Municipal Court judge hears the case. All of the other muny court judges then recused themslves from the case.

Allen, 74, retired from the Willoughby Municipal Court bench in December 2011 and is available for visiting judge assignments from the Ohio Supreme Court.

Reed has been charged with OVI, non-working light, turning position and change of course.

Reed was arrested back on March 5 near East Ninth and Rockwell Avenue in downtown Cleveland about 2:30 a.m. after running a red light and making an improper turn. Police say he failed a sobriety test.

Reed served a 10-day sentence in 2008 on his second drunken-driving conviction. The 52-year-old Reed has served on the council for 13 years.